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15 Best Games You Might Have Missed In 2018

This year saw the release of God of War, Spider-Man, and Red Dead Redemption 2, just to name a few. With such a crowded year, it makes sense that gamers may have passed over a few great titles in order to play other major games. Luckily, Game Rant is here to highlight fifteen of the best games players may have missed in 2018 that are worth giving a try (in no particular order).

15 Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire

For fans of:Classic Fallout, CRPG's

Available on: PC

If there's one thing developer Obsidian knows, it's how to make a great RPG. The first Pillars of Eternity game was a last-ditch effort to keep the studio afloat and was only made possible due to a successful Kickstarter campaign. Thankfully, the success of the first game allowed Obsidian to create yet another entry into the franchise, also thanks to Kickstarter, that builds upon everything the first game did right. Deadfire gives players lots of opportunity to roleplay, and an equal chance to partake in some DnD style combat. At the very least, Deadfire should get players excited for Obsidian's newly announced Outer Worlds game thanks to how well the studio creates RPG titles.

14 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

For fans of: The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher 3

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Kingdom Come Deliverance boasts a massive, incredibly detailed world to explore as Henry, the game's protagonist. It's one of the most realistic games ever made, making players eat, sleep, and drink at regular intervals if they wish to stay alive. Warhammer Studios went a long way to ensure that their world was an accurate representation of Bohemia during the Holy Roman Empire, though the games first saving system kept quite a few players away. Luckily, the saving system was quietly changed earlier this year, so now may be the time to check the game out.

13 Celeste

For fans of: Super Meat Boy, Platformers

Available On: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

Celeste is an incredibly stylish romp in hardcore platforming, which may be intimidating at first. However, it is well worth the effort to work through the game's difficult platforming stages to enjoy Celeste's soundtrack and narrative. The game currently sits at an impressive 91 on Metacritic and took home the prize for Best Independent Game at The Game Awards this year.

12 Beat Saber

For fans of: Guitar Hero, Rythm Games

Available on: PSVR, Oculus Rift

Beat Saber is hands down the most energetic rhythm game ever made. By the end of a session, there's a very high probability that players will be covered in sweat, but also wanting to immediately dive right back in. Beat Saber has it all: an incredible soundtrack, great visuals, and a fun core gameplay loop. Like many other VR titles, the game has been passed over due to the largely early-adopter nature of the platform, but that doesn't mean Oculus and PSVR owners should ignore it.

11 Octopath Traveller

For fans of: Chrono Trigger, JRPG's

Available on: Nintendo Switch

Octopath Traveller is one of the most visually stunning games of the year. The not-quite 3D graphics blend with the soundtrack in a gorgeous and relaxing way, though the game may have a slow start depending on the character you choose, so it's worth looking into which character to choose first. However, each story has a hook that should please just about any fan.

10 Guacamelee! 2

For fans of:Metroidvania, Brawlers.

Available on: PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One.

Guacamelee! 2 lets players journey back into the Mexiverse, which just so happens to be one of the most stylish video game worlds to have released this year. The game builds upon everything the first did well and should be an entertaining romp for any fans of the Metroidvania genre. It's packed full of clever references to other games and earned an impressive score in our review.

9 Donut County

For fans of: Puzzle Games, Katamari Damacy

Available on: PC, Switch, IOS, PS4, Xbox One

Donut County has a ton of charm and a certain amount of zen. You control a sinkhole that sucks up most of the titular Donut County, with brief cutscenes interspersed between each new area to provide a little narrative that's more for extra entertainment than anything else. The more you absorb, the bigger the sinkhole grows, until players are able to sink entire structures. It may be too short for its own good, as we said in our review, but it's still a great way to kill a little downtime for players with the mobile and Switch versions.

8 Starlink: Battle For Atlas

For fans of: Skylanders, Adventure Games

Available on: PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

The time for toys-to-life games may have come and gone, but that doesn't mean there can't be any new games that give the genre a shot. Starlink is one of the more interesting toys-to-life games out there, as it allows players to completely customize their own ships in real life and import them to the game. There are quite a few video game cliches packed in, but that shouldn't stop players from checking it out. Plus, most of the ship parts can be purchased digitally, which helps avoid the clutter of most toys-to-life games for players that don't want to worry about extra junk to step on. And hey, players on the Switch even get some exclusive Star Fox content.

7 Dead Cells

For fans of: Rogue Legacy, Dark Souls

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Dead Cells took home the award for best action game this year at The Game Awards, and for good reason. It's one of the most fast-paced and energetic Metroidvania games available, and it's an absolute must play for fans of the genre. The game released into early access last year, which gave players the opportunity to shape the game into the beautiful creature it is today. There are a plethora of unique weapons for players to try out, which keeps combat feeling fresh the entire way through.

6 The Messenger

For fans of: Ninja Gaiden, Super Metroid.

Available on: PC, Switch

For gamers that are looking to have an 8 or 16-bit itch scratched, The Messenger can provide both. The game is a spiritual successor to the classic Ninja Gaiden games on the NES, which means it can prove to be quite the challenge. It's not a game for the faint of heart, but for those looking to relive the glory days of hardcore platformers, The Messenger is certainly worth checking out.

5 Moss

For fans of: Ico, Adventure Games

Available on: PSVR

Moss is a storybook that has come to life, putting players in the role of the reader who controls the game's mouse protagonist, Quill. The game isn't very long, but it's evidence of how the VR platform has grown and changed since its release, and could potentially be considered the system's "killer app." It's an interesting concept, and it's at least worth out checking out some of the gameplay before players decide whether or not it piques their interest.

4 Moonlighter

For fans of: A Link To The Past,

Available on: Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One

Moonlighter answers the age-old question of what it's like to be a shopkeeper in a video game. Players are responsible for finding merchandise, setting prices, and dealing with shoplifters all while trying to make a profit on the things they find while adventuring. It's a simple, yet clever, twist on other games in the genre, and certainly something gamers have been asking for for years.

3 The Return Of The Obra Dinn

For fans of: Monkey Island, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Available on: PC

Coming from Lucas Pope, the creator of Papers, Please, The Return Of The Obra Dinn is a game about... insurance. While that may not be the most exciting sounding sales pitch, The Return of The Obra Dinn is another instance of Lucas Pope making seemingly tedious task entertaining and deep. Players will have to investigate the disappearance of a ship's crew using echoes of the events leading up to their disappearance. Doing so will reveal more of the game's narrative, which just so happens to be its strongest aspect. For anyone curious about the game, there is a demo of an older version available for download.

2 Astro Bot Rescue Mission

For fans of: Platformers, Ratchet & Clank

Available on: PSVR

The beauty of Astro Bot Rescue Mission is its simplicity. It takes tried and true platforming gameplay and combines it with fresh VR concepts to make an all-around magical experience that hasn't been achieved by anything else quite yet. It's the type of game many people could use to finally justify picking up the PSVR headset, despite the platform's infancy. For players lucky enough to pick up the headset when it was on sale during Cyber Monday, this is definitely a game worth checking out.

1 Into The Breach

For fans of: FTL, Strategy Games

Available on: PC, Switch

Into The Breach is a strategy game from the creator of FTL, and a fine one at that. Players are in command of mechs and other heavy armored combatants as they attempt to push back an invasion by underground creatures. While the concept may sound similar to that of Gears of War from a narrative standpoint,Into The Breach stands out more from a gameplay perspective by putting players into situations that almost feel impossible to beat, and giving them the tools necessary to do so. Overcoming these scenarios feels rewarding, and the game is available on Switch for players that need a dopamine rush on-the-go.

There's a good chance that players spent time with at least some of the games on this list over the course of the year, but it's definitely worth checking out anything that may have flown under the radar. Each game brings something new to the table, and a few even managed to make it onto our list of the best indie games of 2018.